Electric igniter for gas



(No Model.)

No. 583,586; v

G. WESTINGHOUSE & E; RUUD.

ELECTRIC IQNITBR PoR'GAs ENGINES.

s sheets-sheen 2.

Patented June 1,1397.

FIG. 2.

(No Model.) '3 SheetsBSheet 3.

V G WESTINGHOUSE 8v E; RUUD.

ELECTRIC I GNITER FOR GAS ENGINES Patented June, 1, 1897.

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k y I WITNESSES} I 37%, my.

. HOUSE and EDWIN RUUD, citizens of. the,

. vation, of an engine with our improvement.

UNITED; STATES P T NT" Fries.

ELECTRIC lGNl-TER SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettenfatent No. 583,586, dated June 1, 1897. Application filed September :22, 1896- flerial No..608,624. (No model.)

To all where it may concern; Be it known that we, GEORGE TESTING- United States,'residing at Pittsburg,=in' the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvanimhave invented or discovered a certain new'and nseful lmprovement in Electric Ig-' niters for Gas-Engines, of which improve: ment the following isa specification.

The object of our invention is to provide an improvement in gas-engines; and to this end it consists in new and improved means forefi'e'cting the ignition of the cylinder or combustion-chamber of a gasengine. and in certain combinations and features of'construction, all as hereinafter fullyset forth.- v

. In the accom panying drawings, which illustrate an application of our'iuvention, Figure 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in eleapplied thereto; Fig. 2, a. plan view of 0hr improved igniting'de'vice shown applied to a twmcylinderengine Fig. 3,a.v'iew, partlyin elevation and partly in section, on the line a; a;

of Fig.2; Fig. 4,-asection through the cap or bonnet in which the igniting-electrodes are mounted; Fig. 5,.a cross-section through the cam-shaftof the igniting device on the liney-y of Fig. 3, aud Fig. 6 aside elevation of the igniting points or electrodes and the inner end of the plug which forms an extension of the cap or bonnet in which the electrodes are mounted.

' Our improvement provides simple and'efliclosingsan opening in the cylinder-wallet in the head of. the cylinder-of the engine.

In Figu20f the drawings we have shown an application of our improvement to a. two- -cy1inder gas-engine inwhich two symmetric-j ally-disposed portions of the igniting mechanism. engage with and are operated by the .same mechanism for transmitting motion from the main shaft of the engine; 'but it-will gases iii-the;

be obvious that'by merely omitting some of the parts; and without anychange in the construction of the remaining parts, the mechanism may heapplied'tq-a single-cylinderen glue. One of the adi' antagesof our-improvement, however, is its special adaptability to a multiple-cylinder engine. I

r In theconstruction shown in the drawings the mechanism is'operat-ed by the movement of a" rotating shaft .1, which is driven from the main shaft .of the engine and carries a governor -2 'for controlling the regulatingvalve device 3. The shaft l'is geared to a rotary cam-shaft 4, which receives motion from the main sha'ft'by means of geariugand is adapted to operate theexhaust-valve mechanism of the engine,-' as shown and described in our pending applicationfierial No. 588,539,. filed April 22, 1896. 'Our improvement is, however, not limited to this particular construction'orm'eans for. transmitting motion.

To 'thgupper-end of the shaft 1 is secured a gear-wheel 5, which 'engageswith agearwheel 6, mounted on a. sleeve 'Ir', and connected therewith in such a manner that when the wheel 6 is rotated in, one direction it causes rotation of the sleeve in the same direction but when the wheel 6 is rotated in the reverse direction the sleeve remains stationary. F01 this purpose the spring 8 (shown in Figs. 3 and. 5) is fixed at one end to the hub of the wheel 6, and at-its other end is secured tofa p'in 9,.whic'h passes through a hole in the hub and engages witha shoulder at one end of a groove or recess 10, forn1ed on shoulder and turns the sleeve with the wheel 6, and when the wheel '6 is turned in the opposits direction the end of the pin slides and the outer surface of the sleeve without bracket 12, and rigidly'secnred .to the sleeve parts with whichit engages are of such form that a reversal of the motion of the cam mi 'ht cause damage to themechanism, and tort is the sleeve, 7. When the wheifi is turned in on'edirection, the pin 9 bears against the,

over the rounded inner surface of the groove.

GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE AND EDWIN RUUD, OF PITTSBURG. PENNSYLVANIA) imparting motion to the sleeve. The sleeve 7 is mounted on a shaft 11, secured to a is a cam 13lfor operating the levers of the igniting mechanism- The cam 13 and the j the wheel 5, and the cam 13 thereby'adjusted to vary its times of action.

Secured to each of the cylinder-heads 14 and 14 is a stud 15 or 15', which forms a fulcrum for one of the tappe't s' or levers 16 or 16*. Each of these tapp ets or levers is provided'on one end with a. pin or projection 17 or 17,'-wh-ich engages with the cam 13, and

the opposite, ends of the ,.levers extend into position to operate the mova'bl'e electrodes of the ignitingmeclia'riism.

The levers or tappets 16 and 16' are acted on by the springs and 40, which tend to hold. the adjacentends of'the levers in'enw gagement with the cam 13, and the-opposite ends of the tappets 16 and 16' are provided with fingers or projections adapted to act on: the outer arms of the movable electrodes, 50, as to break contact between thesparkingpoints of the-movable and fixed electrodes at the proper time. 1

Mounted on each of the cylinder-heads 14 and 14 is aremovable cap or bonnet 18 or 18", rovided with a. cylindrical extension 19,

. as s own in .Figs. 4 and 6, and fitted in each of the bonnets 18 and 18 are tw'o'fixed and two movable electrodes, each of the movable electrodes being adapted to coact with one of the fixed electrodes to make and break a circuit and cause a'spark forigniting the gases. As shown in Fig. 2, the movable electrode 21 and the fixed? electrode 20, ,which are moinitedinj-lxc cap-18, codperate to 'make or break a cir'ctntlby the b'ontact; or separation of the sparking-points on their inner ends. and the movable electrode 23 in the cap 18 similarly cooperates with the fixed electrode 22. In-the cap 18* the sparking-pointsof the movable electrodes 21 and 23 similarly coact with the sparking points on the fixed electrodes 20mm 22, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, which is a section through the cap 18 and its exten sion 19 on the linlg .2 z, the fixed electrode consists of a rod 20, which extends through a hole or passage 24 in'thehemgvmb le cap orbonnet 18 and is'provided von its inner end with a projecting pin orsparking-p'oint 25. The hole or'passage 24 thropgh the cap 18 is considerably larger in diameter than the rod 20, which' passes cen trally therothrough, so that the rod is not in contact with the sides of the passage, and the ends of the'pussagc are enlargedto receive theinsulating-sleeves 26 and 27 and the packing-gaskets :28 and 29, which bear againstthe shoulders formed by the. enlargements of the passagci2-i. A tight joint is formed around the-ends of the rod 20-h -cylinder.-.he ad 14.

the packing-gaskets 30 and 31, and when the nut 32 is screwed up on the rod the insulatting sleeves and packing and the rod 20 are tightly clampcd'in place. 7

The movable electrode 21 (shown in Fig. 4) passes'th-rough a metallic tube or bearing35, which-is fitted in the cap 18, and an arm 33, secured on the inner end of the rod 21, is provided with a sparking-point 34, which is adapted to make contact with the point 25 on the fixed electrode 20; as shown in Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Fig.2. In Fig. 6 the inner ends-of the fixed electrodes 20 and 22 are shown in elevation with their sparkingrpoints 25 and 25 each in contact with apoint on one of the arms 33 or 33' of the corresponding movable electrode.

' Rigidly secured to the outerend of the movable electrode 21 is an arm 36, which is engaged by ode end of a spring 37, tending to move the arm 36, the electrode 21, and the arm 33, so as to make contact between the sparking-points 34 and 25 of the movable and fixed electrodes. Each. of the movable electrodes 23, -21;and 23 is provided at its outer end with a similar-arm 38, 36, 01'' 38, which is similarly actedon by'a spring 30, 37', or 39" That end of the lover or ta-ppet 16 which opeiates't-he movable electrodes'is provided with two projections or fingers 42 and 43, adapted to engage. with the heads of the adjustable screws 44 and 45, respectively, which are mounted in the ends of the arms 36and 380i the movable electrodes 21 and 23. As shown in Fig. 2, the arms 36 and 38 are in the positions which thywill occupy when the sparking-point-s of the movable electrodes to which they are secured arein contactwith the sparking-points of the corresponding fixed electrodes; and the fingers 42 and 43 of the lover or tappet 1-6 are shown out of contact with the adjusta'ble screws 44 and 45 and'at. equal distances therefrom. Either of the arms36 or 38 may, however,-be-released from the pressure of its spring 37 or 39 and moved out of the path of the projection or finger on the lever 16. and either of'the screws 44 or45 may be adjusted so as to vary the time at which the elect-rode is operated by the lever.

In order-to render either of the electrodes 21 or 23 inoperative by the tappet 16, it is only necessary to disengage that end of the spring 37- or 39 which bears against the arm 36 or 38 and to move the arm out of the path of the corresponding finger on the tappet 16. The spring 37 or 30 may then bear against the pin 46 or 47, projecting from the cap 18. The constrnctiorlof the fingers on the operating-lever or tappei. and ofthe adjusting devices "on the arms of the movable electrodes for the other cylinder are preferably in all respects similar to those described as being mounted on the The fingcrs'on the ends of the levers ma be-givewany preferred form, or they may e dispensed with if the outer arms on the movable electrodes and the adceases justable screws onthe arms be given such form and proportions as isnecessary to per-' unit the desired engagement with the lovers Referring to that portion ofthe mechanism shown mountedon the cylinder-head 14, it will be seen that'the movable electrode 21 and fixed electrode 20 and their cooperating parts form one sparking device or a makeand-break device for one circuit, and the movable electrode 23 and the fixed electrode 22 form another sparking device, or av makeand-break device for anothercircuit, and that either-of'these devices may be employed while the other is inoperative, or, if preferred, both devices mayb'eoperated to produce two simultaneous sparks,-or the adjustment may .be such that'two sparks may be produced for each explosion,,with a slight interval between thes'p'arks.

Itwill not usually-be necessary to keep in operation more than one movable electrode for 'each cylinder, and it will therefore be preferable .to have the. other disengaged, asdescribed, in order to prevent wear. -In case of accident to the'one inoperation thedisengaged electrodemay be quickly'broughtinto action by merely engaging the end of its spring with the arm of the electrode, and the other may-then be disengaged. n

In case it is necessary to remove one of the caps 18 or 18 tov inspect or repair any portion of the sparking devices t-hecaps 18 and 18" may be readily removed and, if desired, may be replaced by a similar. cap'and electrodes.

. The cam- 13 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig.- 5, and during about one-half of a revolution of the cam, after the projection 17 on the end of the lever-116 passes the shoulder 4:1v on the cam, the lever 16'ijs in position to hold open-the circuit or circuits controlled by the movable electrodes) One f thefingers or projections 42 or 43 onthe lever .16 is then in contact with the'corre sponding adjustable screw 44 or 45 on the arm 36 or, 38, and the sparking-point on the inner end-of the movable'electrode is ,held out of contact with the point on'the corresponding fixedelectrode. During the next half of a.

revolution of the cam 13 that endof the lever which engages with the cam is gradually moved outward from. the center of the, cam, the fingers on the other end of the lever are moved to permit/the springs bearing 'on the arms of .the movable electrodes to gradually close the circuits by bringing the movable sparking-points into contact with'the' fixed sparking-points, and when the points have made 'contact thefingers on the lever are.

moved a little farther, soas to be out of contact with the adjusting screws on the arms of the movable electr0des,-as shown in the away from the adjusting-screws, the rotation device applied/tothe cylinder-head 14in Fig. 2. The sparking-points being in contact and closing the circuits controlled by ,them and the fingers on the lever having been moved of the cam 13 causes the shoulder -41 on the cam to pass the projection 17 or 17* on the, end of the lever, the spring40 or40 suddenly that part of the cam beyond the shoulder 41, and by the same movement of the lever the end of the lever, the contact of-the sparkingpoints is suddenly broken, and a spark is produced. v As shown in Figs.- 2 and-5, the shoulder 41 "on the cam is just about'to pass the projection or pin 17- on the lever 16.

0n the right of Fig. 2 the lever 16 and the and '23 are shown in the positions which they will occupy at the beginning of the movement by which the sparking-points are put in con! tact and the circuits closed.

Although both of the movable electrodes in each of the caps 18 and 18 are shown in position to be operated bythe "levers 16 and 16, it will be understood that thefsimultaneous employment of two sparkingdevices for each cylinder is not essential, and the prein each cylinder andtokeep'the other disengaged and in readiness to be broughtjnto action when desired, as, for example, when adjustment or for anyv other reason.

The removable caps 18 and 18 may be easily and others. may be'as easily and quickly secured in their places by means of bolts through the holes 48 and 49 or 48' and 49. The bolts are omitted from the drawings becausethey might tend to confuse the lines of with itstwo fixed and two movable electrodes may constitute an article of manufacture which is adapted to be applied to any form requires no special manipulation in its application and no special construction of the part of its simplicity and therefore comparatively inexpensive-construction, involves but little expense in case removal or the substitution of one for another is required. The necesism itself. Each of-the movable electrodes v.positeends, one within and the otherwiththrows the lever into positionto engage with ferred practice is to employ but one at a time and quickl-yremoved from'the cylinder-heads of gas-engine, which is of such form that it ring ca-used-by the operation of the mechauis rigidly connected withthe'arms on its op- EG'JIISlBiDQQfSCIGWS on the arms of the movable I. electrodesare struck by the fingers on the.

arms 36" and. 3,8 of the movable electrodes 21* the other device is inoperative or requires too [05 the drawings" Ea'chof the removable caps IIO 'to'which it is applied, and which,.on account sity of such'renewal or substitution will, howout thecylinde'r, and formstherewith a rigid integral structure. The only parts within the cylinder that make contact with one another are the sparking-points, and their approach to one another is so gradual that the impact between them is exceedingly small, the comparatively light springs which act on the outer arms of the movable electrodes merely acting to keep the adjustable screws on those arms ificontact with the fingers on the levers 16 and 16 as they gradually recede after breaking the circuit and until the sparking-points are in contact.

- The sudden action of the levers 16 andlfi on the outer arms of the movable electrodes 1 has no injurious efiect on any of the internal parts, which are merely separated thereby, and the action on the outer arm's 'is'to a certain extent cushioned by the springs which bear on those arms. If, however, the outer arms should become damaged or loosened in any way, they are in position to be removed or repaired, and while this is being done-one of the other movable electrodes which has been in reserve may be put in action.

On opposite sides of the bracket 12, above which the rotating cam is mounted, are-fitted cushioning devices of rubber or'otber suit able material which are adapted to diminish or prevent noise and shock which might be caused by the projections or pins 17 and 17* on the levers 16 and lib-being thrown against a the cam after the passing of the shoulder on the cam. Inthe drawings the cushioning de-. vice 50 and 50, of rubber or other suitable material, is moun ted in a recess in the bracket 12, and an adjusting-screw 51 51 is fitted in position' to bear. on the cushioning material for the purpose of adjusting it. On one side of each of the levers 16 and 16 is fbrmed a flattened projection or tup 52 or 52, which i adapted to strike the cushioning device just before the pin or projection 17 or 17* on the lever comes in contact with the cam after slipping over the shoulder on the cam.-

lhe time of ignition of the gases may be varied by adjusting the cam'13 and the wheel 6 relative to the wheel 5, as already described, and any more delicate adjustment of the sparking devices may be 'eifected by means of the adjusting-screws on the arms of'the movable electrodes. g

The breaking of contact'between the sparking'points is effected in the most eflicient manner by the sudden blow delivered bythe lever 16 or 16 under the action of a comparatively strong spring, andv the return movement, by which the contact is again made under the action of the weaker sprz'ng,.is not only gradual, but the pressure between the points when in contact is such as to cause no injurious effect.

We claim as our invention and desireio secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a gas-engine,the combination, in an igniting mechanism, in which a sparkjs produced within the cylinder by breaking an electric circuit, of two movableelectrodes each adapted by its movementto cause a spark within the cylinder, actuating mechanism for imparting motion ,to the movable electrodes, and means whereby either of the movable electrodes is adapted to be operated by the actuating mechanism, substantially as set forth. 4

, 2. The combination,with a gas-engine cylinder, of a removable cap, or bonnet, two mov able electrodes mounted in the cap, or bonnet, each adapted by its movement to make and break a circuit, and an actuating mechanism for operating either of the'movable electrodes, substantially asset forth.

. 3. The combinatiom'with a gas-engine cylin der, of a removable cap, or bonnet, two mov-- able electrodes mounted .in.the cap, or bonnet, each adapted by its movement to maketwo movableelectrodes, each adapted'by itsmovement to make and break an electric circuit, a cam operated from the engine, and a lever, or tappet, engaging with the camlnd adapted to transmit motion to one or both of the-movable electrodes, substantially as set forth.

5. The combinatiomwith a gas-engine cylmotion to the movable electrodes, and a cam with whichthe lever or tappet engages and which is adapted t6 beoperated from the engine, snbstantially'as set forth 6. The. combinatiomwitha gas-enginecyb inder, of amovable electrode which is adapted to make and break a circuit, a lover, or tappet,

for a'ctuatingthe movable electrode to break the circuit,"a spring unconnected with the movable electrode, for moving the tappet in one direction, .a cam engaging with the lever, or tap'pet, and means whereby the cam may be adjusted to vary thetime of action of the movable electrode, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, inan igniting mechanism for a gas-engine, of a movable electrode, a lever, or tappet, for actuating the movable electrode, a cam with which the lever, or tappet, engages, and a'gear-wheel operated from the engine and so connected .with'the' cam as to be capable of rotating the cam in one direction' only, substantially as set-forth,

8. In a gas-engine, the combinatiomwith a removable head, or bonnet, of a movable electrode mounted in the head, or bonnet, rigidly-connected arms mounted on the opposite ends of the electrode, a lever, or tappet, for

engaging the arm on the outer end of the electrode, a sprin unconnected with and disengaged from-the movable electrode, for moving thelcver or tappet to break the circuit, and means for actuating the lever, or

, tappet to close iheci'rcuit, substantially as set forth.

9. .In a gas-engine, the combinatiomwitha removable cap or bonnet, of a movable electrode having rigidly-connected arms on or near its opposlteends and which is adapted to make and break a circuit, an adjusting de- 1 vice' on the outer firm, a; spring for actuating the movable electrode and tending to close the circuit, a spring'engaging a lever or tap-f pet and tending to open the circuit, and means 1 for actuating the movable electrode from the engine, substantially as set forth.

- 10. The combination, with a. removable cap or bonnet, which is adapted to be applied to an opening in the wall or head ofagas-engine cylinder, of two movable electrodes'having rigidly-connected arms on, or near, their opposite ends; and ad usting devices on the .outer arms, substantially as set forth.

1 l-. The combination, with aremovable cap,- or bonnet, which is adapted to be applied to an opening in the wallor head of a gas-engine cylinder, of two movable electrodes mounted in the cap, or bonnet, and having rigidlyconnected arms-on their opposite ends, and two fixed electrodes adapted to be engaged by two of the arms on the movable electrodes, substantially as set forth.

12. In ages-engine, the combinatior with a movableelectr'ode, of a lever, or tappet, movable independently of but adapted toengage with the movable electrode, a cushioning device for the leve 1=,or tappet, a cam with'which the lever engages, and a spring-tending to hold the lever in engagement with. the cam, substantially asset forth.

13. The combination, in an igniting mechtrode, adapted to cooperate with the fixed electrode to make and break a circni' a, a spring acting on the movable electrode an i tending to close the circuit, a rotating cam, a'lever, or tappet, engagingwfth the cam, and a spring for actuating the lever to break the circuit substantially asfs'e't forth.

15. The combinatiomin an igniting mechanism fora two-cylinder gas engine, of a fixed and a movable electrode'flor-each cylinder, a lever, or tappet, for operating each of the movable electrodes, a cam engaging with and impartingmotiou to both levers, or tappets, and a. countenshaft on which the cam is mounted and which receives motion from the engine, substantially as set forth.

16. In a gas-engine, the combination, with a governor-shaft operated from the main shaft, ofa cam-shaft geared to the governor-shaft, a cam on the cam-shaft which engages with a lever, or tappet, and a movable electrode which is actuated by the lever or tappet, substantiallyas' set forth.

17 In atwo-cylinder gas-engine, the combination, with a counter-shaft operated from the main shaft of the engine, of a ,cam-shaft driven by the counter-shaft, a cam on the counter-shaft, two levers or tappets engaging with the cam, and two movable electrodes extending into each cylinder and adapted to be actuated by one of the levers, or tapnets,

substantially as-se-t forth.

' 18. In ages-engine, thecombination, witha governor-shaft, operated from the main shaft of the engine, ajgovernor and a governorvalveon the shaft, a cam operated by gearingfrom the governor-shaft, a lever, or tappet, engaging with the cam, and a movable electrode operated by the lever, or tappct, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have here-un to set our hands.

GEO. WESTINGHQUSE EDWIN noun. o

Witnesses:

JAMES B. YOUNG, WESLEY G. CARR. 

